Recovering deleted files on Xiaomi smartphones: from the basket to deep scanning

Removing important photos from your vacation, accidentally erasing work documents, or cleaning a folder from a video without checking the contents? On Xiaomi smartphones (Redmi, POCO, Black Shark), it is possible to return lost data — even if you have already emptied your cart or formatted your memory card. In this article, we will analyze all the available ways to restore files, from standard MIUI functions to professional utilities that work even after resets.

The rule is, the faster you start, the better the chances of success. Once you delete files don't physically disappear — they're just labeled as "free space" and can be overwritten with new data. So don't install new apps, take photos/video, or copy files to the device until you've finished recovering. If you're talking about a microSD card, immediately remove it and connect it to your PC through a card reader.

We tested all methods on the current Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and POCO F6 models with MIUI 15 (Android 14). The instructions are versatile and will be suitable for most of the brand’s devices released after 2018. Older smartphones (such as the Redmi 4X or Mi A1) may require additional steps – we will mention them too.

1. Check the basket in the Files app

The easiest way to return deleted files is to look into the built-in MIUI Recycle Bin, which stores data for 15 days by default (up to 30 days on some models), after which it is automatically cleared.

• 📁 Files deleted through the Files application (folder icon on the desktop).
• 📷 Photos and videos deleted from Google Photos or the standard Gallery app.
• 📄 Documents deleted via Google Drive or Mi Cloud (if sync is enabled).

To recover files:

1. Open the Files app (yellow folder icon).
2. Slip on three horizontal lines (☰) in the upper left corner and select the basket.
3. Tick the desired files and click Restore at the bottom of the screen.
4. Select the folder to save (by default - the original location).

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If the cart is empty but you're sure that the files have been deleted recently, try restarting your smartphone. Sometimes MIUI doesn't display the contents of the cart without restarting the system.

⚠️ Attention: Basket in MIUI Does not save files deleted:

• Through a Explorer (e.g. Solid Explorer or FX File Manager).
• Rm commands in ADB or Terminal.
• When formatting a memory card or internal storage.
• Through the Cleanup function in the storage settings (Settings → Storage → Cleanup).

2. Restore via Google Photos (if synchronized)

If your Xiaomi has autosynchronization enabled with Google Photos, the chances of returning lost media files increase by up to 90%, the service stores deleted photos and videos for 60 days (in the cart) and allows you to restore them in their original quality.

Open the Google Photos app → tap on the profile avatar in the top right corner → select the Recycle Bin. This will show all files deleted in the last 2 months to return them:

1. Mark the necessary elements with a long tap.
2. Press Restore (the arrow icon down).
3. Files will return to the album All photos and to the device (if the option is saved on the device).

If the Google Photos Recycle Bin is empty but sync has been enabled, try:

• 🔍 Type:video or type:photo – sometimes files do not fall into the basket, but remain in the archive.
• 📅 Check the Archive album (in the side menu) - screenshots, memes and duplicates automatically get there.
• 🌐 Go to the web version of photos.google.com from PC – there you can display more data.

⚠️ Note: If you delete files before you connect to your Google account or you disable sync, this method will not work:

• Documents (.docx,.pdf,.xlsx).
• Audio files (.mp3,.wav).
• Screen recordings or voice notes.

3.Using Mi Cloud (Xiaomi Cloud)

Mi Cloud is Xiaomi’s proprietary cloud storage that automatically backs up photos, contacts, notes, and even SMS. If you’ve logged in to Mi-account on your device, check the cloud:

Go to i.mi.com → log in → select the Gallery or Files section, and all backups, including deleted data (if they have synced) will be displayed here to restore:

1. Check the files.
2. Click Download (to save to PC) or Restore to your device (if your smartphone is connected to the same account).

The nuances of working with Mi Cloud:

⚠️ Note: If you reset your smartphone to factory settings and do not remember the data from Mi-account, it will be difficult to restore access to the Mi Cloud. SMS/email, In extreme cases, contact support via account.xiaomi.com.

4. Deep scanning programs (without root)

If you don't find files in the cart or the cloud, you need to connect specialized tools that scan internal memory or microSD card at the bit level and recover data even after formatting. We tested 5 programs, and the best results were:

• 🥇 DiskDigger – finds photos, videos and documents, works without root, supports preview.
• 🥈 EaseUS MobiSaver – Restore Contacts, SMS WhatsApp files, but require a PC connection.
• 🥉 Recuva (for PC) – a free utility for scanning memory cards through a card reader.

Instructions for DiskDigger (on the example of Xiaomi):

1. Download DiskDigger from Google Play.
2. Launch the app and select Start basic scanning (without root).
3. Mark the file types to search for (e.g. JPG, MP4, PDF).
4. Wait for the scan to be completed (may take up to 1 hour).
5. View the files found, mark the necessary ones and click Restore.
6. Save the data to another media (not the same Xiaomi!).

Battery charge > 50%|Disable Wi-Fi and Mobile Data|Do not run other applications|Save recovered files to a PC or other memory card-->

The critical nuance is that if you have already written new data to your device after deleting files, the chances of recovery fall to 10-30%, for example, if you have taken another 50 new pictures after deleting a photo, the old data will be partially overwritten.

5. Restoration with root rights (for power users)

If standard methods fail, deep root scanning remains, which is a risky option (may result in a loss of warranty or system failure), but it increases the chances of data being returned by up to 70%.

• 🔧 Unlocked bootloader (Bootloader) on Xiaomi.
• 📱 Established recovery (TWRP Or OrangeFox).
• 💻 Autopsy or PhotoRec (for PC).

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock Bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (can take up to 7 days).
2. Install TWRP Recovery for your model (see instructions on XDA Developers).
3. Connect your smartphone to your PC in MTP mode and start PhotoRec:

sudo photorec /d [way to save] /dev/sdX

Replace sdX with your drive (e.g. sdcard for memory card)

1. Select the file system type (FAT32 or exFAT for the card, ext4 for the internal memory).
2. Wait until the scan is completed (may take several hours).
3. Check the recovered files in the specified folder.

⚠️ Note: After obtaining root rights:

• The smartphone will reset to factory settings (unless Magisk was used to mask root).
• Google Pay, banking apps and some games will stop working (due to SafetyNet).
• Xiaomi can cancel the warranty if it detects traces of unlocking.

6. Recovery after resetting settings or firmware

If you've done a hard reset or reflashed your smartphone, the chances of getting it back are minimal, but there are, and only professional software like R-Studio or UFS Explorer that works with physical memory imagery will help.

Algorithm of action:

1. Remove the memory dump via ADB (unlocked Bootloader required):

adb shell


su




dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0 of=/sdcard/mmcblk0.img

1. Copy the resulting file mmcblk0.img on the PC.
2. Open it in R-Studio and start scanning for file signatures (JPEG, MP4, etc.).
3. Export the data found to another medium.

⚠️ Attention: This method requires a deep technical knowledge:

• This will result in total loss of data (if the process is interrupted).
• Disable the emmc chip (on older Xiaomi models).
• Make the smartphone unbooted (if you incorrectly specify the device block).

If you are not sure about your abilities, contact the service center with equipment for chip-off recovery, the cost of such a service is from 5 000 to 20 000 rubles (depending on the model and the amount of data).

7. How to prevent future data loss

To avoid the problem of deleted files, set up automatic backup on Xiaomi:

• 🔄 Google Photos: Enable Backup and Sync in the app settings. Select Original quality (if the cloud location allows it).
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud and activate backup for Gallery, Contacts and Notes.
• 💾 Local Copy: Once a month, connect your smartphone to your PC and copy important files to your hard drive (use the same link). MTT Xiaomi PC Suite).
• 📱 Backup Apps: Install Swift Backup (requires root) or Titanium Backup to backup applications and their data.

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Even if you don’t plan on recovering files, check the Recycle Bin regularly in the Files app and clean it manually. Autocleaning can work at the most inopportune moment!

For microSD cards:

• Use cards at least A2 (such as the SanDisk Extreme or Samsung EVO Plus) – they are less likely to fail.
• Do not remove the card while recording data (for example, when shooting 4K video).
• Format the card only through your smartphone (Settings → Storage → SD Card → Format), not through your PC.

FAQ: Frequent questions about file recovery on Xiaomi